Improvement in curtain-fixtures



n T161. n v N m Unten *rn GEORGE W. PEIROE, OF ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CURTAIN-FIXTURES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 170,298, dated November 23, 1875; application filed September 9, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. PEIRCE, of Arlington Heights, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Curtain-Fixtures, of which Athe following is a specification This invention relates to a locking device for adjusting and iixing the tension of the spring which balances the weight of the shade; and it consists in the use of a bent wire key, one end of which engages in a slot in the head of the roller, and the other bears against a shoulder to prevent its turning too far.

Another feature of my invention consists in the use of a small staple or equivalent device to lessen friction between the spring and the spindle and prevent the coils of the spring, at its end, from being drawn into the crevice between the core upon which it is placed and the head to which its end is attached.

Figure l is a side view, partly in section,l

showing my improvements attached to a roller; Fig. 2, an outer end view of the key and parts connected therewith 5 Fig. 3, a cross-section of the cylinder, Suc., showing also the inner end of the head and the relative arrangement of the spring wire and staple.

My invention is applicable to that class of shade-rollers known as balance-iixtures, having a coiled spring within the cylinder upon which the shade is rolled, the recoil of which rolls up the curtain when unrolled, or counterbalances its weight.- I contemplate using with my devices a somewhat heavy stick at the bottom of the shade, and to adjust the tension ofr the spring so nicely as todispense with pulleys, cords, and weighted-tassels, thus greatly simplifying the apparatus.

- A is the tube, preferably of paper or papiermache', having wooden heads or plugs secured therein and closing its ends. The head at the left-hand end, and not shown in the drawings, is perforated through its axis to receive a projection of the bracket constituting the pivot upon which that end of the roller freely turns; or, if preferred, the pivot may project from the head and enter the bracket. The head Gis likewise perforated to receive the metallic spindle D, upon which it turns. This spindle, or a wooden prolongation of it, passes through the center of the cylinder A, and rests in a central recess in a step or plug, E, in the cylinder. The outer end G of the spindle is of suitable rectangular form, so that when inserted in the bracket it is held stationary and kept from turning with the roller. The coiled spring F,

loosely surrounding the spindle, and securedV to it at its inner end, is attached, at its outer end, to the head G, which forms part of the ceive the wire key K, passing loosely through it. Both ends of this key are bent, one, L, at right angles toits axis, so that when turned toward the center of the roller it may enter a slot or perforation, C', in the head or in the prolonged end of the cylinder A, while the other end, M, of the key is bent in a 'plane at right angles to that of the end L, or otherwise,

so that it bears against the flange or shoulder I when the end L is in the slot. This contact of the end M with the shoulder I prevents the end L from moving farther in that direction. The end M is prolonged sufficiently to be conveniently adjusted by the hand ofthe operator. If the flange I is in a plane parallel to the axis of the spindle, both ends ofthe key should be bent in the same direction. The bending of the key, as described, prevents its loss by dropping out.

Now, if the spindle and h ub H are held by the bracket or otherwise so as not to turn, and the roller is turned as in drawing down the shade, a certain tension will be imparted to the spring', since one end is turned and the other held stationary. It' the end L of the key is now engaged in the slot the reaction of the spring will so turn the key in the hub as to press the end M against the fia-nge I and hold it there. In this manner vany desired degree of tension can be im parted to the spring before the .shade is unrolled or, when un rolled a given distance, it can he locked and held in that position for removal from the bracket or other- A'rEN'r Grauen.

wisc. The key is automatically released from the slot in the head by drawing` the shade downward, whereby the end L is pressed out ofthe slot since the flange I offers no resistance to the movement of the end M away from it. The power of the spring when adjusted is balanced by the weight of the shade and stick. Raise the stick at the bottom and the power ot' the spring will roll up the shade to any desired distance, this power growing stronger as the weight of shade unrolled increases, and vice versa.

-Heretofore in shade-xtures of this character it has been customary to fasten the outer end of the spring byvmerely inserting it in a hole in the head, and when power was applied to wind up the spring the end ofthe wire would turn inW the head, and one or more coils would be drawn into the crevice between the inner end of the head and the core on the spindle, or otherwise would be wound tightly around and bind upon the spindle, and prevent proper action of the spring. To avoid this difficulty I pass, say, one inch of the last coil of the spring-wire through a small staple, N, driven into the inner end of the head, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. I then bend the extreme end of the wire to the right and drive it into the head about half an inch. The wire is ordinarily driven in first and the staple afterward. The staple Ilot only1 serves to prevent the end of the wire from being drawn out of the head or turned in it, but, as above stated, prevents the coiled spring from hugging the spindle so as to impair its action. Similar results would follow if the spring-wire were passed once around a tack or nail used in place of the staple.

I claim as of my inventionl. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of the spring F, cylinder A, slotted headO, perforated hub H, and key K, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of the spring F, spindle D, slotted head C, perforated hub H, and bent key K, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the slotted head C, bent key K, and flanged hub H I, substantially as set forth.

4. In a curtain-fixture, the combination of the tube A, head C, spring F, and staple N, arranged and operating substantially as set forth.

GEO. W. PEIRGE. Witnesses: l

A. W. GATES, OTTo SHARP. 

